Wala, Abbot of Corbie

Wala, abbot of Corbie was the son of Bernard (natural brother of Charlemagne) by a Saxon woman, and seems to have been born about 765. He studied at the palatine school, and received the name of Arsene (male) from his teacher, Alcuin, on account of his energy. Tudesque was his native tongue, but he well understood Latin and Greek. He was employed by his imperial brother in several distant embassies and home duties, but was neglected on the accession of Louis the Pious (814); and two years after he assumed the clerical habit at Corbie, where his brother Adalhard was abbot. He was banished by the royal disfavor, but was recalled in 822, and in 826 became abbot. He died in October, 835, of grief, at the civil commotions of the times. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé, s.v.